MONTPELIER – A bill that started out calling for a moratorium on wind projects and is now a promise to continue the conversation about the best ways to site energy projects, passed the House 140-3 on Friday.

The bill calls for the House and Senate Natural Resources & Energy committees to meet this summer and review the work of a special siting commission, which is due to report its findings next week.

Rep. Tony Klein, D-East Montpelier, said though he opposes a moratorium he has come to appreciate that communities are split over such projects.

Though turning legislation into a study is rarely seen as a victory for proponents, supporters of a moratorium were taking it that way in this case. Having the committees meet means they will be able to continue raising questions about the effects of large-scale ridge line wind projects.

“We need to understand why they tore up the mountain and the wind turbines haven’t turned all week,” said Rep. Don Turner, R-Milton, referring to the Georgia Mountain wind project.

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